Buckle.



J. F. RIOUX.

BUCKLE.

APPLlcATloN F|L ED 1uLY 4.1911.

1,266,629. l Patented May 21,1918.

K 4 lmlm m/ i M 14 kh WH Y JOSEPH EJRIOUX, or.` EDGEWooD, r12a-ront: .IsLANn BUCKLE.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

.patent-ea Mayer, reis.

Application filed July 4, 1917. SerialNo. 178,522.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. RIoUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Buckles, of which the following is a specification'.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a buckley especially adapted for personal use withv belts, and it has lfor an object toprovide a buckle having means to adjustably retain each end of the belt in close relation so as to vrender sam comfortable to the wearer.

Further, the invention vresides 'in an improved buckle having a main securing member to which the anchoring memberis connected and by which it is carried,` each member adjustably engaging a respective end of the belt in such manner as to'better secure or engage the same when the latter is under a strain or pull.

The invention further resides in the specific features of construction and the arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved buckle attached to a belt, the latter being shown in fragment.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof disclosing the belt-engaging means operatively related.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the disclosures made in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections on lines H and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 2 showing the belt gripping means for each end of the belt.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the body 1 of the buckle comprises a front face plate curved longitudinally to conform to the shape of the vbodv and provided on its upper and lower edges with inturned walls or flanges 2. The body walls have a pair of opposing bearings 3 in which are journaled the trunnions 1 of a clamp 5, said clamp being more or less in the form of a T, in cross section with the trunnions disposed at one edge or side of the cross bar. The stem of the T-clamp is also slightly curved and has the trunnion-bearing flange 6 extending therefrom toward the opened side of the body with the flange 7, which is preferably sharpened, extending in an opposite direction or inwardly toward the front plate for clamping the belt thereagainst.

The-stem portion of the clamp is inthe form of a broad plate that extends from the jaw 4or belt-engaging part'7 to lie beyond lthe ends of the body walls, when said clamp -trunnions 10-of a belt anchoring clamp 11.

This clamp is of bell-crank indesign, having a short arm or jaw part 12, which is preferably serrated, and a longer, operating lever orA y handle which extends edge-with an overhanging lip orkeeper 13 beneath which the free end vof the handle part of clamp 11l is adapted to Vspring or engage/for guarding said free endand prevent accidental and unauthorized lifting thereof.

In practice, the xed end of the belt 14 is inserted between the serrated edge 12 and the comparatively stationary jaw plate formed by the handle lever of clamp 5, and the clamp 11 moved to its operative position and secured therein by springing the handle thereof beneath the keeper 13. The belt is then passed about the body and the free end threaded between the jaw part 7 and the front plate after which the handle part is swung toward said front plate to clamp the belt. The double clamp constitutes a unitary device in which the anchoring clamp has its operating lever engaged by a snap catch or keeper and is pivotally mounted between the side walls of the body to actuate the gripping jaw 7.

Thus, the anchored end of the belt may be Xed in the desired position and the free end removably secured, both ends having adjustable securement. This is especially advantageous, as the belt can be fitted to the customer from a stock of one length instead of, as at present, having to select from a stock of varying and many lengths.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a belt buckle, a body, a substantially rigidly formed T-shaped member having its cross-bar pivoted to the body so as to clamp one end of the belt between the body and one side edge of the cross bar, a

substantially L-shaped clamping member toward thev flange 6, the latter being'formed onitswfree pivoted to the T-shaped member adjacent the free end of the stem of the latter to clamp the opposite end of the belt between the stem of the T-shaped member and the foot of said L-shaped member, and means to latch the free end of the stem of the L- shaped member tothe opposite side of the cross-bar of the T-shaped member. j

2. In a belt buckle a body, a rigid member pivoted adjacent one end to the body to clamp one end of' the belt thereto, means borne by said member to clamp the opposite end of the belt to one side face of said member, and means to latch said clamping means to the member adjacent the rst named end thereof.

3. In a buckle, a body, a rigid plate-like member pivoted at one end to the body and` having means at said end to clamp one end of the belt to the body, and a plate-like member pivoted at one enid to the -irst 'named member and having means at said end to clamp the other end of the belt to the first named member, the rst member having a keeper adjacent its said first named end to enable the opposite end of the second member to be snapped into engagement thereto to latch the latter.

4. In a belt buckle, a body, a plate pivoted n at one end to the body and having'means to ,l clamp one end of the belt thereto, said plate in clamping position extendingsubstantially parallel to the body so as to extend 1n close juxtaposition throughout its length to said belt end, and a second plate pivoted at one body so as to holdvthe belt ends fiat and all ofthe parts closely related.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, JOSEPH F. RIOUX.

v l`Witnesses:

ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, LC. A 

